Actuating mechanism for pressing machines



Feb. 2, 1932. E. DAVIS ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1935 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 ERNEST DAVIS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY, INC., 013 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ACTUATING- MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Application filed December 2, 1926, Serial No. 152,278. Renewed June 22, 1931.

This invention relates to garment or ironing presses and particularly to actuating mechanism for such machines which lock whenin closed position'together with means ti for opening the press when unlocked and it "has for its object a particularly simple and efficient power or motor means for giving the initial opening or unlocking movement.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinati'ons'and constructionshereinafter set forth and claimed.

ln describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate correspondingparts in all the views. v

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the motor and its control mechanism embodying my invention and laid out in diagrammatic form with fluid pressure iiowing to the motor.- v p Figure 2 is a side elevation of a pressing machine showing my invention applied thereto. v

This invention comprises generally, a. re- 0 versible motor as a cylinder or other fluid motor having a piston movable therein and connected to the movable element of a pressing machine through motion transmitting mechanism to close the press when the p1ston is actuated in one direction, the movement 01" the piston or the control of motive fluid to one end 01 the cylinder being by a manually operated or operator operated valve or valves and a manually operated or operator operated valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the other end of the cylinder to give an initial opening impulse to the press so that additional means as counterweights or springs can complete the opening movement. The, cylinder andthe piston constitute one form of revers ble motor, the piston rod a motion transmittmg part movable in opposite directions, and the valves, operator operated members for controlling the operation and the reversing ot the motor to close and lock the press and to reverse the motor to unlock the press or give a starting openingimpulse thereto so that it m will open bythe counterweight or springs. W Each member or valve has its own individual manual operable indepcndently of the manual for the other valve or member.

I have here shown my invention as applied to a conventionaltype of laundry and garment pressing machines including a head 1 movable toward and from the buck 2 which is suitably carried by a frame 3, the head 1 being carried at the front end of a lever or yoke 4 pivoted at 5 between its ends to a standard 6 rising from the frame 3 and having connected to its rear arm, means as a counterweight 7 and a counterspring 8 which tends to open and hold open the press. The rear arm of the yoke 4 is also connected to motion transmitting mechanism including means which lock when the press is closed.

The mechanism here shown comprises toggle links 9 and 10 pivoted together. at 11 and pivoted respectively to the rear arm of the yoke lever 4 at 12, and to the lower end of the frame at 13. The link 10 is also formed with a forwardly extending power arm 14. A spring 15 is connected to this arm 14; and acts in conjunction with the weight 7 and spring 8 to open the press. 7 The meanstor actuating this motion transmitting mechanism comprises a fluid or pressure operated motor as a cylinder 16 and a piston 17' movable in the cylinder and having its rod 18 connected to the forward end of the power arm 13. The flow of motive fluid to and from the opposite ends of the cylinder is controlled by manually operated valves. The control of motive fluid to one end as the upper end of the cylinder from a suitable teed pipe is controlled by a pair of valves both of which must be operated simultaneously to efiect the closing of the press.

20 designates the feed line for the motive fluid as compressed air, and this is connected to the cylinder through a valve casing 21 and pipe 22 to a passage 23 in the head of the cylinder which passage opens into the cylinder through a port 24. The pipe 22 is also connected by a pipe 25 to an exhaust valve casing 26. The feed pipe 20 is connected to the valve casing 21 through a suitable'coupling .27.

The control valve mechanism in the valve w) casing 21 comprises a normally closed intake valve28 and a normally openexhaust valve 29 connected by a stem 30 whereby they act as a unit, the pipe 22 leading from the casing 20 between these valves. A spring 31 tends to normally hold the valve 28 closed and the exhaust valve 29 open, this spring being located between the perforated spring abutment 32a and the valve head 28. These valves 28 and 29 are operated by a suitable manual or button as a push button 33 suitably supported in a frame or box 34 carried by the main frameof theflm'achine, and the motion of this manual or button 33 is transmitted through levers 34 and 35 to the stem 36 of the exhaust valve 29.

The control valve mechanism in the. valve casing 26 includes a normally open exhaust valve 37 similar to the exhaust valve 29 and this exhaust valve is closed'by a button; or operative member '38 similar to the button or operating member 33' and operated through levers 39 and 40 similar to the levers 34 and 35; 'When .both'buttons 33 and 38iare depressed and held depressed, the motive .fluid,

as air, will pass from the pipe 20 throughthe valve "casin'g21 and pipe 22, passage 23 and port 24 into the cylinder .17 and actuate it into the position" shown in the drawing. If

however, the button 38 is not depressed, ob-

viously, .the air will exhaust past the valve 37 out through the passage at 41 instead of entering thecylinder. Also, if after the piston is started on its out 'or power stroke, the

. operator does not hold down the button 33 but does hold down the button 38, the air will exhaustout oif thecylinder through the port 24, passage '23, pipe 22 and past the exhaust I valve 29 out through the passage 42 so that the counterweight 7 and spring 8 will open the press. However, insofar as this invention is concerned, a valve mechanism requiring but one button or operating member may be used. 7 I

When the press is closed, the motion transmitting mechanism is locked in closed position by suitable mechanism, and it'is here shown as locked by parts of the mechanism themselves coming into a locking position as the toggle links 9 and 10 moving' into or beyond the'dead center lineof the toggle. In

3 order to unlockithe' press, means'is provided to move the toggle links 9, 10 out ofstraight- V button'o'r operating member 33. V 5 43designates the valve casingwhich is connected by a pipe 44 to the feed pipe 20 and by a pipe 45 to the lower end of the cylinder 16.

46 is an intake valve similar to the intake valve 28 and 49 is anexhaust valve similar to the exhaust valve 29, these being connected by a stem 50 acted upon by a spring 51 which normally holds the intake valve closed and the exhaust valve open. 52 is a handle grouped with the button or operating member 33, this handle 52 being a lever which acts upon the stem 50 of the exhaust valve 49.

Obviously, when the press is closed and the toggle in a locked position, upon the operating of the handle 52 to open the intake valve 46 andclose the exhaust valve 49, the motive fluid or airwill passto the lower end of the cylinder. It is only necessary to mo mentarily operate the'handle 52,.as'only an initial starting impulse need begiven to the piston. As the exhaust valve 49'is normally open, the motive fluid exhausts through it when the handle 52 is released and'hence prevents the cylinder frombecoming air bound.

What I claim is t 1. A pressing machine comprising coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward.. and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable elementinto closed position including means for locking the same in closed position, anda power actuator, means for moving the movable element to open the press when the actuating mechanism is unlocked, the power actuator comprising a. cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder and connected to said mechanism, two spaced manual means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the cylinder on one side of the piston for closing the press and thereby moving said mechanism into locked position, and manualmeans for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the other side of the piston to momentarily actuate the piston to unlock said mechanismQ 2. A pressingmachine comprising coacting pressing elements, one ofwhich is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for'actuating the movable element into closed position. comprising means for locking the same in closed position, and apower actuator, means'for moving the movable element to open the press when the actuating mecha nism is unlocked, the power actuator comprising 'a cylinder, apiston movable in the cylinder and connected'to said mechanism, manual means for controlling the how or" motive fluid to the cylinder on one side of the piston for closing the pressv and thereby-moving said mechanism into locked position, and

manual means forcontrolling the flow of motive fiuid'to the other side of the piston to momentarily actuate the piston to unlock said mechanism, the manual'means for controllingthe How of motive fluid to the oppo site ends of the cylinder having their operating members grouped together.

3. A pressing machine comprising coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element into closed position comprising means for locking the same in closed position, and a power actuator, means for moving the movable element to open the press when the actuating mechanism is unlocked, the power actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder and connected to said mechanism, manual means for controlling; the flow of motive fluid to the cylinder on one side of the piston for closing the press andthereby moving said mechanism into locked position, and manual means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the other side of the piston to momentarily actuate the piston to unlock said mechanism, the manual means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the'cylin der to actuate the piston to close the press comprising two operating members, both of which must be operated during the closing 1 the press and the manual means for controlling the opening of the press including a single handle.

4. In a pressing machine coacting pressin g elements one of which is movable toward and from the other and means for actuating and locking the movable element in closed po sition including a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, operating means between the movable element and the piston, a manually opera-ted valve for controlling the flow of fluid to and'from one end of the cylinder to effect the closing and the locking of the press, and another manually operated valve for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the other end of the cylinder to give a starting impulse to the piston to open the press.

5. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element into closed position including means for look- I ing the same in closed position, a motion transmitting part movable in opposite directions, means tending to open the press when unlocked, reversible motor means for actuating said motion transmitting part in one direction to close the press into locked position and in the otherdirecti'on to unlock the looking means, and operator operated means for controlling the actuation of said part by the motor means in opposite directions.

6. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element into closed position including means for locking the same in closed position, a motion transmitting part movable in opposite directions, means for moving said part in one direction to close and lock the press, means tending to open the press when unlocked, motor means for actuating said motion transmitting part in one direction to close the press into locked position and in the other direction to unlock the locking means, operator operated means for controlling the actuation of said part by the motor means inopposite directions, said operator operated means including two members operable independently of each other,

onecontrolling the closing of the press and the other for opening the press.

7. A pressing machine comprising coopcrating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanism for actuating the movable element into closed position including means for locking the same in closed positions, a motion transmitt-ing part movable in opposite directions, means for moving said part in one direction to close and lock the press, means tending to open the press when unlocked, a reversible motor connected to said part to actuate the same in one direction to close and lock the press and in the other direction to unlock the press, and operator operated means for controlling the actuation and the reversing of the motor, said operator operated means including two members operable independently of each other, one controlling the movement i?! of the motor in one direction and the other cont-rolling the movement thereof in the reverse direction.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county ii of Onondaga and in the State of New York, this 29th day of September, 1926.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

